Kidnapped or Defected? Top Iranian General Disappears

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by E.L., Mar 6, 2007.


  1. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    http://blogs.abcnews.com/theblotter/2007/03/kidnapped_or_de.html

    Kidnapped or Defected? Top Iranian General Disappears

    March 05, 2007 5:28 PM
    Hoda Osman and Christopher Isham Report:
    [​IMG] The mysterious disappearance of an Iranian general in Turkey in early February has led to speculation he either was kidnapped or defected.
    Iran has reportedly asked Interpol to investigate the general's disappearance. Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was quoted by Iran's news agency today as saying that a foreign ministry official was currently in Turkey to investigate the disappearance and has asked the Turkish government "to inquire into the issue and give explanation on Asgari's whereabouts."
    One respected analyst with sources in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard says Gen. Ali Reza Asgari has defected and is now in a European country with his entire family, where he is cooperating with the U.S.
    Other reports have suggested that the general may have been kidnapped by the Israeli secret service, the Mossad. A spokesperson at the CIA declined to comment on the reported defection.
    "This is a fatal blow to Iranian intelligence," said the source, explaining that Asgari knows sensitive information about Iran's nuclear and military projects. Iran called tens of its Revolutionary Guard agents working at embassies and cultural centers in Arab and European countries back to Tehran out of fear that Asgari might disclose secret information about their identities, according to the analyst.
    Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.
    There are conflicting reports about how and when Asgari disappeared. The general, according to Turkish and Israeli press reports, arrived in Istanbul from Damascus on Feb. 7. Initial reports speculated he may have been kidnapped because he failed to show up at a hotel that had been booked for him by two non-Turkish men.
    The source, however, believes Asgari's disappearance was prompted by the detention of five Iranians after the raid on their government's liaison office in Irbil, Iraq in January. Asgari, 63, knew and may have worked with some of the detained men, said the analyst.
    Asgari's years with the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the Iranian defense ministry would make him an invaluable source of information. He was reportedly based in Lebanon in the 1990s and was in charge of ties with the Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah.
    At one point he was also in charge of military purchases at the defense ministry and exposed widespread corruption there which led to the arrest of a number of officials. Most recently, he worked as a consultant for the same ministry.
     
  2. sniper-66

    sniper-66 Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Either way, [touchdown]
     
  3. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Sniper, transplant any hooded passengers lately? eek3
     
  4. pizzamonkey

    pizzamonkey Monkey+++

    He's the smartest guy in the country, and getting the :censored: out of there before their luck runs out. What a world of information if we have our hands on him. GOTTA LUV IT!!!!
     
  5. sniper-66

    sniper-66 Monkey+++ Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Yes, but it wasn't him. One of the guys flew a hooded man, but it was Chemical Ali going to his trial. The passenger manifest had him listed as "Dirka Mohamed Jihad", someone had a sense of humor that day, or been watching Team America
     
survivalmonkey SSL seal        survivalmonkey.com warrant canary
17282WuJHksJ9798f34razfKbPATqTq9E7